Article 1.　The purpose of this Law is to provide for the location, construction, building-and-repair plan, etc. of buildings of State organs, in order to prevent their damage and to promote the convenience of the general public and the improvement of the efficiency of public service.

Article 2.　"Government building and repair" as used in this Law shall mean new construction, enlargement, rebuilding, moving, repairing or remodelling of buildings of State organs.

2　"Office building" as used in this Law shall mean a building used by a State organ for the administration of its affairs and exclude a school, hospital, prison, factory, warehouse and garage.

3　"Head of Ministry or Agency" as used in this Law shall mean the Speaker of the House of Representatives, President of the House of Councillors, Chief judge of the Supreme Court, Director of the Board of Audit, and the Prime Minister, Attorney-General, Ministers of various Ministries and President of the Economic Stabilization Board.

4　In this Law, the meaning of "building" , "building equipment" , "principal structural parts" , "fire-proof construction" , "fire-protecting construction" , "incombustible materials" , "to construct" and "specified administrative agency" shall be as provided for in Article 2 of the Building Standard Law (Law No.201 of 1950).

Article 3.　As to the buildings of State organs, provisions of the Building Standard Law shall apply unless otherwise provided for by this Law.

Article 4.　Office buildings, being public facilities of the people, shall popularly acceptable, convenient and safe.

Article 5.　Office buildings shall, in conformity with their respective use, be constructed at a place suitable for the convenience of the general public and the efficiency of public service.

2　The head of Ministry or Agency may, if he deems it appropriate with regard to an office building under his jurisdiction to furnish the State-owned land under the jurisdiction of the other head of Ministry or Agency as its site in order to attain the objective mentioned in the preceding paragraph, apply to the head of Ministry or Agency concerned and the Minister of Finance. In this case, the head of Ministry or Agency concerned and the Minister of Finance shall extend their cooperation to see that such land is used as its site.

3　The head of Ministry or Agency may, if he deems it appropriate with regard to an office building under his jurisdiction, to use the land other than the State-owned land as its site, in order to attain the objective mentioned in paragraph 1, apply to the mayor of the city, town or village where such land is located. In this case, the mayor of the city, town or village concerned shall endeavor to use his good offices for the acquisition or lease of such site.

Article 6.　Office building shall be constructed for joint use, except for special inconvenience, in order to utilize the land highly, to save the construction expenses, and also to promote the conveniences of the general public and the improvement of the efficiency of public service.

Article 7.　When an office building falling under any one of the following items is constructed, the principal structural parts thereof shall be of fire-proof construction:

2　When an office building other than those enumerated in the preceding paragraph is constructed, the exterior walls and under-eaves thereof shall be of fire-protecting construction, and the roof thereof shall be constructed or covered with incombustible materials.

3　In cases where an office building is constructed at a locality other than the fire-zone or quasi-fire-zone mentioned in Article 60 paragraph 1 of the Building Standard Law, if there is around the locality an open space such as a park, square and road, or a facility which is useful for fire defence and the specified administrative agency considers that there is no likelihood of its catching fire, the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs need not he observed.

4　With regard to an office building falling under the category of building provided for in Article 85 paragraph 2 of the Building Standard Law, the provisions of paragraphs 2 and 3 of the same Article shall apply, notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding three paragraphs.

Article 8.　The Minister of Construction may, in case an office building is not in conformity with the provisions of the Building Standard Law or orders, or by-laws issued thereunder, or paragraph 1 or 2 of the preceding Article and is deemed dangerous to security or fire defence, advise the head of Ministry or Agency concerned by fixing a method and period, to take necessary measures, such as rebuilding, moving, repairing, remodelling, etc.

2　The head of Ministry or Agency shall, when he has received the advice under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, notify without delay the Minister of Construction of the principle of measures to be taken, and, when such measures have been taken, notify him of the result thereof.

Article 9.　The head of Ministry or Agency shall forward to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Construction a building and repair schedule of the buildings of State organs, under his jurisdiction for each fiscal year by July 31 of the preceding fiscal year. However, this shall not apply to repair or remodelling which does not cost more than \1,000,000 in total for one project.

2　In the building and repair schedule mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be shown the location, proportions, construction, building equipment, construction period and construction expenses of the respective building.

3　In case the Minister of Construction has received the building and repair schedule forwarded in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1, he shall forward his written opinion concerning it by August 20 to the head of Ministry and Agency concerned and the Minister of Finance.

Article 10.　In order to make research and deliberation upon important matters concerning government building and repairs in response to the inquiries of the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Construction shall have a Government Building and Repair Council (hereinafter referred to as "the Council" ).

2　The Council may submit its opinion on important matters relating to government office building and repair to the State organ concerned.

3　The Council may fix standards for the location, proportions, construction and building equipment of buildings of State organs and for office buildings for joint use, and may make recommendation to the State organ concerned on the execution thereof.

4　The Council may, with regard to necessary matters relating to government building and repair, request the State organs concerned to present data or to make a report.

Article II.　The Council shall be composed of not more than twenty members.

2　The members shall be appointed by the Minister of Construction from among the personnel of the State organs concerned and persons having knowledge and experience concerning architecture.

3　The members shall serve part-time.

4　The term of office of the members appointed from among persons of learning and experience shall be two years. However, the term of office of a member filling a vacancy shall be the unempired portion of his predecessor's.

5　The members mentioned in the preceding paragraph may be reappointed.

6　Other than those provided for in the preceding paragraphs, the organ taking charge of the affairs of the Council, the operation of proceedings of the Council and other matters necessary for the Council shall be provided for by Cabinet Order.

Article 12.　The Minister of Construction may request the State organs concerned to present reports or statistical data necessary for the enforcement of this Law.